~~~^~~~ said:Jeesh - a lot gets attributed to the RJDC that they had nothing to do with. As luck would have it, the CMR FO Rep that started the recall effort cornered Dan Ford in ATL in the ramper's break room behind the smoking lounge under C while I was standing there. The FO Rep courted Dan and wanted RJDC support for what he was trying to accomplish. Dan Ford flat out told him that the RJDC would remain clear of any local politics and that personally he thought the recall effort sent a bad message that undermined the Comair pilot leadership when strong leadership was needed.
I can say, as a matter of policy, the RJDC has no interest in undermining our local leadership. To the contrary, we need strong leadership and the RJDC's efforts to obtain equal representation would provide that leadership with the actual ability to represent their constituencies.
There are times when RJDC members, who are also ALPA members, make representational requests ( as is appropriate ) to their local Status Representatives. That is the ALPA representational structure and we support its function. Unfortunately, our Status Reps have gotten used to hearing "no" from ALPA National to the point that are tacitly accepting ALPA's bad faith bargaining and cowering to budget pressure applied by ALPA National. None the less, ASA has really good local representation in ATL and allthough they may get tired of our requests that they participate in Delta bargaining that effects our wages and working conditions - it is still appropriate for me to make requests through my status reps.
When Fred Buttrell makes statements about "realigning 70 seat aircraft" the Connection MECs should follow up. Scope is the issue in ASA's contract negotiations and we should have a spot at the negotiation table now that Delta is in the process of negotiating scope.
The RJDC's fight over representational rights and obligations is with ALPA National. It just isn't a local issue. Really it does not matter who our local leadership is - John Malone is calling the shots on my job security and career.
And that, my friend, is why the RJDC has no interest in local politics.
~~~^~~~
P.S. I'm sure you can understand why I don't want this guy deciding my fate....
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Thanks for clearing that up, Fins. Sometimes I fall victim to the hype too.
My understanding was that the CMR FO rep you mentioned was supported widely by the RJDC supporters at CMR, not the RJDC leadership specifically. In fact, he is a named plaintiff in the Ford lawsuit. I should have said that the recall was championed by RJDC SUPPORTERS, not the RJDC.